Leary Celebrates Birthday with Record-Setting Day
9/11/2022 11:52:00 AM | Football
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RALEIGH, N.C. - After Devin Leary made his way through the traditional postgame handshakes with the opposition, fist bumps with his teammates and handshakes with Wolfpack fans, he paused in the end zone in front of the NC State band. The Power Sound of the South was serenading Leary with "Happy Birthday," which brought an appreciative smile to the quarterback's face. It was the perfect way to leave the playing field on the day he turned 23.
"I've never really experienced anything like that, so shout out to them for sure," Leary said. "That really made my day."Â
That wasn't the only new experience for Leary, as he finished the day with numbers that have never been bettered by a Wolfpack player. In the first half, he posted a 2-3 combo - rushing for two touchdowns and passing for three.Â
Leary's first rushing touchdown came on a quarterback draw. He ran like a bulldozer plowing through and dragging defenders with him into the end zone. Leary ran an option keeper for his second rushing score, tying his career total for ground-gaining touchdowns. He then threw for three scores in the second quarter.
The first time the Wolfpack had the ball in the second half, Leary connected with Christopher Toudle for his fourth passing touchdown of the day. Leary's six total touchdowns tied the school record for touchdown responsibility previously held by Philip Rivers (vs Navy in 2002) and Mike Glennon (vs Maryland in 2011).
Offensively, it was a showcase of the Pack's depth of playmakers. Seven different players found the end zone: QBs Leary and Jack Chambers, RBs Jordan Houston and Delbert Mimms, receivers Anthony Smith and Jalen Coit, and Toudle. In addition, 14 different receivers caught a pass from three different Pack QBs, and eight rushers carried the ball at least twice.
"We understand how many people can make plays for us,"Â Leary said following the 55-3 win. "We understand how many receivers we have, and even running backs too. We have so many different playmakers, and as the quarterback, it's my job to distribute the ball to them."Â
The coaching staff wanted to find ways to get Houston in space. On the second series of the second quarter, Leary lofted a soft screen to Houston, who followed his line of blockers for a 23-yard gain. On the next play, Leary faked a handoff to the right, looked back left and found Houston wide open on a wheel route for the 24-yard touchdown.
The opening game participation chart showed something to receivers coach Joker Phillips. He wanted to use Julian Gray and Smith more to take advantage of their speed. In the second quarter, Gray was split wide right and Smith wide left. It resulted in a 11-yard reception for Gray. Two plays later, out of the same formation, Leary found Smith for a 40-yard touchdown.Â
For the second week in a row, the defense generated turnovers with three against the Bucs. Tyler Baker-Williams shook the ball free from the quarterback with a bone-jarring hit on a blitz to open the third quarter.
"That's one of the main things that I wanted to work on this offseason: my blitz tracks, my blitz speed and the violence I blitz in," Baker-Williams explained.
The series after forcing the fumble, Baker-Williams pulled down his second interception in as many weeks. "You guys know how we feel about him," Head coach Dave Doeren said of Baker-Williams. "He's one of the best DBs in the country. He's definitely a guy who eliminates peoples' slot receivers on a consistent basis. It's good to see him get some production."Â
The head coach liked what he saw in his team's 11th straight win on home turf. Even better, he likes the 2-0 start for the Wolfpack. Â
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By Jeff Gravley
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RALEIGH, N.C. - After Devin Leary made his way through the traditional postgame handshakes with the opposition, fist bumps with his teammates and handshakes with Wolfpack fans, he paused in the end zone in front of the NC State band. The Power Sound of the South was serenading Leary with "Happy Birthday," which brought an appreciative smile to the quarterback's face. It was the perfect way to leave the playing field on the day he turned 23.
"I've never really experienced anything like that, so shout out to them for sure," Leary said. "That really made my day."Â
That wasn't the only new experience for Leary, as he finished the day with numbers that have never been bettered by a Wolfpack player. In the first half, he posted a 2-3 combo - rushing for two touchdowns and passing for three.Â
Leary's first rushing touchdown came on a quarterback draw. He ran like a bulldozer plowing through and dragging defenders with him into the end zone. Leary ran an option keeper for his second rushing score, tying his career total for ground-gaining touchdowns. He then threw for three scores in the second quarter.
The first time the Wolfpack had the ball in the second half, Leary connected with Christopher Toudle for his fourth passing touchdown of the day. Leary's six total touchdowns tied the school record for touchdown responsibility previously held by Philip Rivers (vs Navy in 2002) and Mike Glennon (vs Maryland in 2011).
Offensively, it was a showcase of the Pack's depth of playmakers. Seven different players found the end zone: QBs Leary and Jack Chambers, RBs Jordan Houston and Delbert Mimms, receivers Anthony Smith and Jalen Coit, and Toudle. In addition, 14 different receivers caught a pass from three different Pack QBs, and eight rushers carried the ball at least twice.
"We understand how many people can make plays for us,"Â Leary said following the 55-3 win. "We understand how many receivers we have, and even running backs too. We have so many different playmakers, and as the quarterback, it's my job to distribute the ball to them."Â
The coaching staff wanted to find ways to get Houston in space. On the second series of the second quarter, Leary lofted a soft screen to Houston, who followed his line of blockers for a 23-yard gain. On the next play, Leary faked a handoff to the right, looked back left and found Houston wide open on a wheel route for the 24-yard touchdown.
The opening game participation chart showed something to receivers coach Joker Phillips. He wanted to use Julian Gray and Smith more to take advantage of their speed. In the second quarter, Gray was split wide right and Smith wide left. It resulted in a 11-yard reception for Gray. Two plays later, out of the same formation, Leary found Smith for a 40-yard touchdown.Â
For the second week in a row, the defense generated turnovers with three against the Bucs. Tyler Baker-Williams shook the ball free from the quarterback with a bone-jarring hit on a blitz to open the third quarter.
"That's one of the main things that I wanted to work on this offseason: my blitz tracks, my blitz speed and the violence I blitz in," Baker-Williams explained.
The series after forcing the fumble, Baker-Williams pulled down his second interception in as many weeks. "You guys know how we feel about him," Head coach Dave Doeren said of Baker-Williams. "He's one of the best DBs in the country. He's definitely a guy who eliminates peoples' slot receivers on a consistent basis. It's good to see him get some production."Â
The head coach liked what he saw in his team's 11th straight win on home turf. Even better, he likes the 2-0 start for the Wolfpack. Â
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By Jeff Gravley
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Players Mentioned
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